Family Update

Baby:

We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. We know that within a few weeks we will have a baby. But, the waiting game is tortuous! I am to the point that I am now second guessing every twinge, cramp, contraction, and other "signs" of labor. Is it labor? Could it be labor? Is she ready? Are we ready? Is it tomorrow or is it in 4 weeks? These are the questions that fill my waking thoughts.

We have decided upon the name: Isabella. The middle name is proving to be more difficult. The boys were easy...Caleb August...and Joshua Daniel. The names were connected to something or someone. I originally was going with "Anne" as the middle name. It is my Mom's, Grandma's and Great Grandma's middle name. It may even go back further but I am not good at remembering genealogy! However, my brother-in-law...who shall remain nameless...Wayne Dupin...is great at coming up with every nickname possible connected to a name. He thinks of the good, the bad and the ugly. Well, after hearing the name "Isabella Ann" he gave us a nickname that is so bad that there is NO way I can use it because I will think of this nickname every single time I say it. So, needless to say we are still thinking.

Here are the few we have thought of:

Elise
Nicole
Any more suggestions?

Caleb:

Caleb is growing up so fast. He will be 5 this summer and start Kindergarten in the fall. He goes to preschool 4 days a week in Alpine and LOVES it. I really miss him when he is gone. I love dropping him off in the morning and watching him wave goodbye and walk in alone. If he sees me watching him he will come back, open the door and tell me that he is fine and I can leave now. I crack up!

He is my big helper. The other day he folded an entire load of towels, cleaned my bathroom (not an easy task) and also cleaned my bedroom. Strange chores, but these were the only rooms that needed any sort of cleaning and he was trying to earn Spangler Bucks in order to purchase TV sticks to use to play the Wii. Spangler bucks are our family's system of rewards. We have had them now for an entire year and have proven absolutely necessary for rewarding good behavior and teaching about consequences. It is also great motivation to help me!!

Joshua:

Joshua is growing and changing everyday. He can tell you exactly what he wants and his verbal skills are excellent. Especially..NO WAY...STOP IT...and all of the other things that he yells at his brother.

He plays really well alone and is learning how to play with Caleb. They now build forts, make messes and get into trouble quite well together. He is doing OK in nursery. He screams when we drop him off but quickly adjusts and has tons of fun.

He is still very much a mama's boy. I hope that he adjusts to the new baby without any difficulties. I worry because he still seems so little...maybe because he loves to cuddle, for me to rock him for naps and hold him at any given moment throughout the day. Wish us luck!

August:

August is recovering well from knee surgery. He is almost 4 months out and is continuing to strengthen his knee/leg in order to get rid of his limp and get back to normal activities.

Work is work. He works a lot, but the hours are pretty good and very family friendly. He is a great dad and husband. We are very lucky to have him.

Danielle:

I am still fat/pregnant and miserable. That about sums it up! J/K. But the impending birth does consume me most of the time. I am very excited to have another girl in the house. I just can't wait!!!

I was laid off from my Triage RN position in March. I was already planning on taking time off at the beginning of April so it just sped things up a month. It has been great having no ties on the weekends, but equally as painful not having the expendable/play money it provided. I hope that sometime this summer I can find a similar position that allows me to stay at home, make money and use my nursing skills. We will see.

Family:

Our family is very thankful for the Gospel. It guides us in all of our decisions and actions. I am just so thankful everyday that I have a Testimony of Jesus and that it gives our family direction and purpose. With Easter around the corner we have tried to take time to remember the sacrifice that was made and how important it was and is.

I hope that everyone enjoys our update and finds time to update your info/blogs with how your family's are doing. We love reading and keeping updated!

Bella's Room

Bella's room is coming together. It is tons of fun getting ready for a girl. The colors are coral-pink, cream and a brown. I still need to find some cute decor type stuff. Here are a few pics.

I love the bedding set, but am going to have my sis-in-law do a "girly" skirt in the same fabric as the brown. She does fabulous bed sets. Here is her link for an example of the puffy skirt I want:

http://www.bedebye.net/bebabega.html

Changing table/dresser.

Rocker and table.

Bassinet. It use to have blue bows. I changed them out to match her room. Should it bug me that the buttons are blue? Because it does!

More new posts below! Keep scrolling!

Fire Day

Caleb's preschool had fire day on Friday. One of the little boy's Dad is a firefighter and brought all of the gear, an ambulance and a fire engine. Joshua was lucky enough to participate and both of the boys had a blast.

Caleb and Joshua are in the middle.

Caleb testing out the...whatever it was. (Water sprayer...is that a word??)

It was yellow day at school. Caleb is on the left.

Shoe Fetish

Joshua is a shoe boy. In the car we can't keep his shoes on. However, at home it is a different story. He LOVES shoes. He has them on all day and always a different pair. He loves all of our shoes and doesn't fail to disappoint! Here are a few examples of his style:

The "after bath, naked, high heel" look. (Dad was REAL happy)

Matching? Who needs matching. I am a BOY!

Lunch with a cousin? Nothing better then snow boots on a sunny day. Just in case of course!

And, yet again his fashion sense is exemplified with mis-matched shoes and a diaper. Spring fashion?

March Update

This is more an update then anything. I haven't been much into taking pictures. Maybe because we haven't done anything too exciting.

Isabella is growing big...too big. Sometimes I wonder how she fits. At night I feel that I am on the movie "Spaceballs"...the cafe scene where the alien pops out of the person's stomach. I get really freaked out with the crazy movements and wish I loved it...but I don't. It freaks me out. I just can't wait until she is cooked and ready to come. Then I can kiss and cuddle her without thinking of alien invasion. If I could pay the MD to induce me, I would. He has said my blood count is REALLY low and if it continues to cause problems he will induce me early. One can only hope...pending mature lungs and everything:) My hospital bag is packed and ready to go. Just waiting.........

We have been dealing with the stomach flu this week. Yuck is all I have to say about that. Everyone has it...all of my extended family and everyone at August's work. I don't know how people in Utah make it to church during the winter. With four of us, one has been sick about every week since January. Then, the cough and runny nose lingers forever. In order to avoid the nasty looks by other's, you can't even take your kid to church with any remaining symptom. Which, I agree with, but it makes it difficult to feel a part of the ward and active. Cheers for living in Utah during cold and flu season.

I have recently deactivated my facebook account. I got very tired of the spam, strange friend requests from people I either didn't know, didn't care to remember or included very freaky messages. I also did not want the "worm" that was reportedly circulating. So, now I am unplugged but wormless! So, please leave us messages/comments on our blog or update your blog so I know how everyone is doing. I am always available on email! If you don't have it, leave a message and I will find ya!

Anyway, that about sums up our life recently. Hope everyone is doing well.